Seam-pressing machine.



F. M. FURBER.

SEAM PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. um.

PatentedFeb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHED I.

F. M. FURBER.

SEAM PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. m7.

Patentd Feb. 25,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- FREDERICK M. FURIBER, 0F REVERE,'MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN' E ASSIGN- I MEN'TS, TO UN'ITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON', NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEAM-PRESSIN'G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed July 26, 1917. Serial N 0. 182,941.

tion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to scam pressing machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for pressing seams formed in the uppers of boots and shoes.

Hitherto considerable difliculty has been encountered in successfully pressing seams in cloth uppers of shoes and particularly in pressing the back seam. This seam has a contour which should bepreserved in the finished shoe, and consequently it is desirable not only to press the seam effectively so that the free ends of the material will lie flat, but to 'avoid' distorting the general contour of the seam. This double problem, of course, presents itself in connection with the pressing of seams in leather or any material, but the free ends of a seam in cloth, unlike those of a seam in leather, require a prolonged ironing operation to make them lie flat, and hitherto it has been diflicult to iron a cloth seam properly without engaging it over an area suflicient to distort or disturb its contour.

The illustrative machine comprises a supporting member over which the work is fed, an operating member, means for actuating the operating member, and means for producing a different relative movement between the members to cause the work both to be operated upon and to be fed. In the construction shown the work is supported on an idle roll, and means are provided for rapidly rotating the seam-pressing roll and for imparting to it. short, rapid vibrations. On the rearward vibratory movement, the rapidly rotating roll presses a small portion of the seam by rubbing or ironing it. and on the forward vibratory movement the same roll feeds the work preparatory to pressing a succeeding portion of the seam. With this construction, in which no feeding means separate from the pressing or ironing means is provided, the work isengaged at any given timeonly over a small area "with the result that no distortion of the contour of the seam results, and at the same time the seam is effectively ironed.

. In order to control the rate at which the work is fed and consequently the amount of ironing which the seam receives, another feature of the invention comprises means for retarding the feed movement of the work. In the illustrative machine this is accomplished by applying to the supporting roll a brake, the pressure of which may be varied. With this construction the feeding of the work may be retarded to such an extent,if desired, that on the forward vibratory movement, as well as on the backward movement, an ironing effect is produced.

These and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described in connect-ion with an illustrative machine and pointed out ,in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying draw- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a detail, principally insection, of the means for applyingwax to the seam; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the members which operate upon the work; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the opening of a seam. I

The seam supporting or work supporting roll 7 having a slightly rounded periphery is fast to a short shaft 9 which is rotatably mounted in bearings in a carrier 11, said carrier being vertically slidable in a guideway formed in an upright portion of the frame of the machine. Connected to the lower end of the carrier at 12 is the yoke of a lever 13 which is pivoted to the frame of the machine at 15. A spring 17, the tension of which may be varied by turning a thumb screw 19, tends always to force the right-hand end of the lever down, and a second thumb screw 21 limits the extent of this movement. The supporting roll 7 is thus held normally in the position shown but is permit-ted to yield downwardly. A treadle rod 28 provides means for depressing the roll when desired, as, for example, to permitpresentation of the work to the machine.

the ends of two alined studs 31 so as to be capable of swinging about the axis of the studs. Extending rearwardly from the arms 29 are lugs 33 the ends of which are connected by a pin 35. A link 37 has at one end an eye to receive the pin 35 and at the other a strap to receive an eccentric 39 which is fast to the driving shaft 41. When, therefore, the driving shaft is rotated, the roll '25hasinipa1'ted to it short, rapid vibrations in a direction transverse to its axis. The roll 25 has fast to it a pulley 43; and a belt 45 runs around this pulley over a double belt tightener pulley 47 and around a pulley 49 which is. fast to the driving shaft 41. The-belt tightener pulley is carried by an arm 51 which is pivoted to the frame of the machine at 53 and is mainporting rolls are guiding and opening 1n-' strumentalities best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The upper end of the carrier 11 is in the form of a yoke between the arms of which the supporting roll 7 runs: Fast-ened to these arms is a generally U-shaped bracket 57 upon which is formed a guide plate 59 having a thin; edge. adapted to enter the crease f the seam on thedispla'y side of the work. A'friction brake 61 of some flexible material is also carried by the bracket 57, being attached to the bracket by a bolt 63 and being capable of being held more or less firmly against the roll'7,

as may be desired, by a thumb screw 65.

Fastened to the frame of the machine above the guide plate 59 are two brackets 67 having horizontal guide members adapted to receive between them the double thickness of the work and to coiiperate with the guide plate 59. A; seam opener 69 of the shape shown is adapted to open the seam as indicated in Fig. 5 preparatory 'to the pressing operation. T In order toassist in maintaining the sea flat after the pressing operation, the machine is equipped with means for applying wax to the seam, and in.the illustrative construction the wax is applied by the seam opener. To this end, the stem 7-1 of the seam opener is provided'with a vertical port 7 3, and two horizontal parts 75 communicate with the vertical port. Thestem extends up through a bore 77 in the frame of the machine which leads from a receptaclefor wax 79. The bore 77 is of reduced diameter for a small distance at its lower end and at that part only fits tightly about the stem 71. The upper end of the stem 71 is slidable in a socket in a screw 80 and is normally held by a spring 82 in the position shown in Fig. 5. When, however, the work is introduced beneath the seam opener and the stem 71 thereby lifted, the wax runs through the ports 75 and 73 out upon the sides and bottom of the opener and down upon the seam. A pin 83 which extends through a slot in the frame of the machine limits the extent 1 of movement of the opener. The wax is maintained in a molten condition by a resistance unit the wires of which are indicated at 83 in Fig. 3; and in orderto prevent chilling of the Wax after it reaches the scam the rotatingpressing roll 25 is frictionally heated by having yieldingly pressed against its side a stationary friction disk 85.

In order to permit assembling the pressing roll in place with the belt 45 running around it, the shaft 27 is provided with a groove (not shown) to receive a spring 87, one end of which is fastened by a screw 89v to the frame of; the machine. A milled head 91 on one end of the shaft 27 provides means for grasping the shaft to pull it out or push it into place when the end of the spring 87 has been lifted out of the groove.

The operation of the machine is as follows:-- j v The end of the seam is opened-and presented wrong side up with the plate 59 in the crease on the under side of the seam, the guides 67 engaging the double thickness of the material and the seam opener in the relation to the seam shown in Fig. 5. The treadle is depressed to permit the seam to be advanced into the path of reciprocation of the roll 25 and is then released. The pressing and feeding of the seam thereafter is automatic. The pressing or ironing roll has two functions,-to rub or iron the seamand to feed the work. It will be noted that the pressing roll is rotated continuously .in a direction to feed the work and that in its oscillation it approaches and recedes from the slipporting roll. Its oscillating movement orces the'seam firmly against the supporting roll twice in'each complete oscillation, once while it is moving backward (to the left in Fig. 1) and once when it is moving forward; and it is during these short, in-

termittent periods that the pressing and feeding are accomplished. The effect of the backward movement alone would be to feed the work backward, but at this time the rotation of the roll tends to feed the work forward.v The result is, or may be, according porting roll, but this time both the swinging movement and the rotating movement tend to feed the work forward. Considered simply, then, the roll 25 may rub or iron the seam on its backward swing and feed the work on its forward swing. All this, however, may be greatly modified by retarding the feeding of the work, in the present machine by applying. the brake 61 with more or less force. It will be obvious that the more nearly the roll 7 is caused to approach a state of being stationary, the greater will be the rubbing or ironing action of the roll 25 and the slower will be the feed of the work. In practice the force with which the brake is applied depends upon the material which is to be pressed; and ordinarily the or ironed on the backward swing of the roll 25 and will be both ironed and fed on the forward swing. In order to cool and solidify the wax after the .seam has been rubbed, a pipe 95, which may be connected to a suitable reservoir of compressed air, is located as shown to direct a blast of air upon the flattened seam.

Although the invention has been set forth in connection with a machine for pressing seams and has been described as particularly adapted forum with seams in cloth, it should be understoodthat the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machine which has been" shown and described or to use with any particular material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a su porting member over which the work is fed, an operating member, means for actuating the operating member, and means for producing. different relative movement between the members to cause the work both to be operated upon and to be fed.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a su porting member over which the work ised, an operating member, means for actuating the operating member, means for producing a different relative movement between the members to cause-the work both to be operated upon and to be fed, and means for retarding the feeding of the work. a 3. A machine of the class described hav-' ing, in combination, a su porting member over which the work is ed, an operating member, and means for producing relative reciprocation between the members, the construction and arrangement being such that the work is operated upon when the reciprocation is in one direction and is both operated upon and fed when the reciprocation is in the opposite direction.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member over which the work is fed, an operating member, means for producing relative reciprocation between the members, the construction and arrangement being such that the work is operated upon when the. reciprocation is in one direction and is both operated upon and fed when the reciprocation is in the opposite direction, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

5. machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member over which the work is fed, an operating mem'ber, means for producing relative reciprocation between the members, the construction and arrangement being such that the work is operated upon when the reciprocation is in one direction and is both operated upon and fed when the reciprocation is in the opposite direction, and yielding means for permitting relative movement between the members.

6. machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member over'which the work is fed, a roll for operating upon the work, means for rapidly rotating the roll in a direction to feed the work, and means for producing a different relative movement between the roll and support to cause the work both to be operated up1 lm and to be fed by the rapidly rotating ro v a 7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member over Which the work is fed, a roll for oper ating upon the work, means for rapidly rotating the roll in a direction to feed the work, means for producing a different relative movement between the roll and support to cause the-work both to be operated upon andto be fed 'by the rapidl rotating roll, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting roll over which the work is fed, a roll for operating upon the'work, means for rotating the operating roll, and means for vibrating one of said rolls.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting roll over which the work is fed, a roll for operating upon the work, means for rotating the operating roll, means for vibrating one of said rolls, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member over which the work is fed, a pressing member, means for rotating the pressing memher, and means for producing a different relative movement between the members to cause the work both to be pressed and to be fed.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a supporting member ber, means for operating the pressing member, means for producing a diiferent relative movement between the members to cause the work both to be pressed and to be fed, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam supporting roll over which the seam is fed, a seam-pressing roll, means foryieldingly sustaining the seam supporting roll, means for rotating the pressing roll, and means for vibrating one of said rolls.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam supporting roll over which the seam is fed, a seam-pressing roll, means for rotating the pressing roll, means for vibrating one of said rolls, and means for retarding the feeding of the seam.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam supporting roll over which the seam is fed, a seam-pressing roll, means for rotating the pressing roll,

' means for Vibrating one of said rolls, and 1 yielding means for permitting relative moveing the roll 1n a roll.

ment between the rolls.

15.. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support over which the work is fed, a seam pressing roll, means for rotating the roll, and means for vibratpath which approaches and recedes from the work.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support over which the work is fed, a seam pressing roll, means for rotating the, roll, means for vibrating the roll in a path which approaches and 'recedes from the work, and means for retarding the feeding .of the Work. f

17 A machine of theelass described having, in combination, an idle work supporting roll, a seam-pressing tool, and means for oscillating the tool, to cause the tool to press the seam and to feed the work.

18. A machineof the class described having, in combination, an idle work supporting roll, a seam pressing tool, means for oscillating the tool to. cause the tool to press the seam and to feed the work, and means for retarding the rotation of the supporting 19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an idle work supporting roll, a seam-pressing tool, means for oscillating the tool to cause the togl to press the seam! and to feed the work, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

20. A machine. of the class described havover which the work is fed, a pressing mem-- lating the tool to cause the tool to press the seam and to feed the work, and yielding means for permitting relative movement between the roll and tool.

21. A machine of the .class described having, in combination, an idle seam supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seampressing roll, and means for rotating said last-named roll and for imparting to it short rapid vibrations.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an idle seam supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seampressing roll, means for rotating saidlast-' named roll and for imparting toit short rapid vibrations, and means for retarding the rotation of the supporting roll.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an idle seam supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seampressing roll, means for rotating said lastnamed roll and for imparting to it short rapid vibrations, and means for retarding the feeding of the work.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an idle seam supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and scam pressing roll,.means for rotating said lastnamed roll and for imparting to it short rapid vibrations, and yielding means. for peirlmitting relative movement between the r0 s.

25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam-supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seam-pressing roll, means for rotating the roll at high velocity to press and iron the seam, and means for imparting to the pressing roll short rapid vi rations whereby the seam is pressed and the work is fed.

26. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam-supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seam-pressing roll, means for rotating-the roll at high velocity to press and iron the seam, means for imparting to the pressing roll short rapid vibrations whereby the seam is pressed and the work is fed, and means for retarding the feedin of the work.

27. machine of the class described having, in combination, a seam-supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seam-pressing roll, means for rotating the roll at high velocity to press and iron the seam, means for impartlngto the pressing roll short rapid vibrations whereby the seam is pressed and the work is fed, and means for controlling the rate of rotation of thesupporting roll..

28. Amachine of the class described having, in combination, an idle seam-supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seampressing roll, means for rotating the pressing roll at high velocity to press and iron the seam, means for imparting to the pressing roll short rapid vibrations whereby the seam is pressed and the work is fed, and a brake for the supporting roll.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support over which the work is fed, a combined work-feeding and seam-pressing tool, and separate means for imparting to the tool work-feeding and seam-pressing movements.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an idle seam supporting roll, a combined work-feeding and seampressing roll, means for rotating said lastnamed roll and for imparting to it short rapid vibrations, a seam opener located in front of the rolls, and means for guiding a seam to the opener.

31. ,A seam pressing machine having, in combination, a work support, means for pressing a seam on said support, and means operated by presentation of a piece of work to the machine for applying wax to the seam.

32. A seam pressing machine having, in

pressing a seam on said support, a seam opener adapted to be moved by presentation.

of a piece of work to the machine, and means controlled by movement of the opener for applying wax to the seam.

33. A seam pressing machine having, in combination, means for pressing a seam, means for applying hot wax to the seam, and means for cooling the wax after it has been applied.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a support for a seam, means for rubbing the seam, a seam opener of substantially triangular outline located in front of the rubbing means, a guide having a thin edge to enter the crease in the seam, and a pair of substantially horizontal guides adapted to receive between them the free ends of the seam and to cooperate with the first-named guide andthe seam opener to present the seam properly to the rubbing means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' FREDERICK M. FURBER. 

